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Unexpected Love #3
Trusting Winter
He wants to date her, but she's afraid of being hurt. He's persistent, but she's unwavering. Which one will get what they want?
Once people find out my parents are in prison and I've spent half my life in foster care, they write me off. Moving from one place to another, living with strangers, and making friends only to move away, has worn down my heart. It's easier to keep people at a distance than it is to feel the pain of another good-bye, so that's what I do.
But I've never known anyone like Eddie. He's open and trusting and carefree. So, basically my opposite. He has these blue eyes that see right through me, and he makes me want to spill all my secrets and drop all my walls and let him in.
The problem is, I'm sure it won't be long before I have to leave. Nothing ever lasts for me, and I don't imagine this will, either. My heart can't take leaving behind one more person I love, so I just won't love anyone.
Trusting Winter is Book 3 in the Unexpected Love series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Once people find out my parents are in prison and I've spent half my life in foster care, they write me off. Moving from one place to another, living with strangers, and making friends only to move away, has worn down my heart. It's easier to keep people at a distance than it is to feel the pain of another good-bye, so that's what I do.
But I've never known anyone like Eddie. He's open and trusting and carefree. So, basically my opposite. He has these blue eyes that see right through me, and he makes me want to spill all my secrets and drop all my walls and let him in.
The problem is, I'm sure it won't be long before I have to leave. Nothing ever lasts for me, and I don't imagine this will, either. My heart can't take leaving behind one more person I love, so I just won't love anyone.
Trusting Winter is Book 3 in the Unexpected Love series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2019
20 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Lora Richardson
14 books129 followersHi, I'm Lora. Thanks for taking a peek in here. I live a quiet life in Indiana with my family. I spend my days reading, writing, and hanging out with my people.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 25, 2019
4.25 STARS
I say this every time I review a new release from Lora Richardson… but she’s done it again. She’s woven her special brand of writing magic and created another contemporary YA novel that made me smile, touched my heart, and had me feeling better for having read it.
In Trusting Winter, we get to know Reverie, a character previously introduced in Awakening Autumn (note: Trusting Winter is the third in a series but can easily be read as a standalone). Outwardly standoffish and a little prickly, Reverie’s sometimes aloof nature hid a multitude of uncertainties. With both parents in prison, she was raised by a loving grandmother. But when her grandmother died, Reverie lost the only stability she had ever known and went into foster care at the age of ten. Now seventeen and living with an uncle she barely knows, Reverie was determined to bide her time, keeping everyone at arm’s length, until she can graduate and be on her own.
At first glance, Reverie might seem like a difficult character to like. She shared little with her friends, turned down most invitations to be social, and quickly shut down any attempts to get close to her. But it was impossible not to feel for this girl who’d had so much turmoil and upheaval in her life. Who lived with the knowledge that her very existence could be shaken up and changed at any moment. With so little stability in her life, Reverie played it safe and didn’t allow close relationships to form. But luckily for her, she had friends who rarely took no for an answer and were there for her again and again, ignoring her reticence and including her in their group no matter how hard she resisted. Greta and Meredith were friends anyone would be lucky to have and I loved their acceptance of Reverie for who and how she was.
And then there was Eddie. I know I also say this is every review of a Lora Richardson book, but every girl should be so lucky to have one of her male characters as a first boyfriend. And Eddie was no exception. He was upfront with his feelings for Reverie from the very start. And wasn’t deterred one bit by her sometimes prickly exterior. His easygoing nature was the perfect foil for her guarded personality. Eddie was funny and charming but also incredibly devoted and was there for Reverie at every turn. I adored this guy who was so steady and resolute and so obviously smitten and willing to show it.
Reverie’s relationship with her uncle and, eventually, with her mother packed an emotional punch. This girl was so determined to need nothing, to expect nothing, but yearned for so much. She wanted so badly to be wanted and needed and loved. Something she’d had far too little of it her life. Her choices were understandable but they still broke my heart. She learned hard truths and my heart ached for her when she faced disappointment.
If there’s still any doubt, let me just spell it out: Lora Richardson is a remarkable writer of young adult fiction and Trusting Winter is another stellar example of that. I adore her heartfelt stories, her utterly realistic characters, and the emotion that permeates every story. As long as Richardson keeps writing, I’ll keep coming back for more.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.
I say this every time I review a new release from Lora Richardson… but she’s done it again. She’s woven her special brand of writing magic and created another contemporary YA novel that made me smile, touched my heart, and had me feeling better for having read it.
In Trusting Winter, we get to know Reverie, a character previously introduced in Awakening Autumn (note: Trusting Winter is the third in a series but can easily be read as a standalone). Outwardly standoffish and a little prickly, Reverie’s sometimes aloof nature hid a multitude of uncertainties. With both parents in prison, she was raised by a loving grandmother. But when her grandmother died, Reverie lost the only stability she had ever known and went into foster care at the age of ten. Now seventeen and living with an uncle she barely knows, Reverie was determined to bide her time, keeping everyone at arm’s length, until she can graduate and be on her own.
That was the problem with liking people. It made me want to stay, and I had no control over whether or not that happened.
At first glance, Reverie might seem like a difficult character to like. She shared little with her friends, turned down most invitations to be social, and quickly shut down any attempts to get close to her. But it was impossible not to feel for this girl who’d had so much turmoil and upheaval in her life. Who lived with the knowledge that her very existence could be shaken up and changed at any moment. With so little stability in her life, Reverie played it safe and didn’t allow close relationships to form. But luckily for her, she had friends who rarely took no for an answer and were there for her again and again, ignoring her reticence and including her in their group no matter how hard she resisted. Greta and Meredith were friends anyone would be lucky to have and I loved their acceptance of Reverie for who and how she was.
They held my heart in their hands. My broken, scared, lonely heart. And it was too late for me to take it back.
And then there was Eddie. I know I also say this is every review of a Lora Richardson book, but every girl should be so lucky to have one of her male characters as a first boyfriend. And Eddie was no exception. He was upfront with his feelings for Reverie from the very start. And wasn’t deterred one bit by her sometimes prickly exterior. His easygoing nature was the perfect foil for her guarded personality. Eddie was funny and charming but also incredibly devoted and was there for Reverie at every turn. I adored this guy who was so steady and resolute and so obviously smitten and willing to show it.
“I want you to know where I stand,” he said. “What I want. I may like to have fun, But I don’t play games.”
“You should know where I stand, too, then. I’m not going to date you. I won’t be your girlfriend.”
His calm expression didn’t change. “Okay, that’s cool. You can keep not wanting to date me, and I’ll keep wanting to date you, and we’ll be best friends.”
Reverie’s relationship with her uncle and, eventually, with her mother packed an emotional punch. This girl was so determined to need nothing, to expect nothing, but yearned for so much. She wanted so badly to be wanted and needed and loved. Something she’d had far too little of it her life. Her choices were understandable but they still broke my heart. She learned hard truths and my heart ached for her when she faced disappointment.
If there’s still any doubt, let me just spell it out: Lora Richardson is a remarkable writer of young adult fiction and Trusting Winter is another stellar example of that. I adore her heartfelt stories, her utterly realistic characters, and the emotion that permeates every story. As long as Richardson keeps writing, I’ll keep coming back for more.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.
December 3, 2019
*****What I Loved About This Book*****
While this works just fine as a standalone, it left me definitely wanting to go back to pick up the rest of the series!
I love Eddie’s exuberance! He’s also understand and intuitive. I so love that he was willing to be whatever she’d allow him to be in her life. If she could only handle friendship, that’s what he was offering! But, he also encouraged her and slowly pushed her to achieve more in her life. He’s such a sweetie!!
Greta and Meredith’s persistent understanding, patience, and support.
This isn’t labeled as a romance on Goodreads, but I still labeled it as such. I think it’s the biggest part of this story. However, it is definitely more than that!
Rev’s uncle!! He has no clue what he’s doing but he has such a heart for her! I loved watching the bond between them slowly grow.
Rev will do and say some things that are so not cool, but you understand with what she’s been through and what she’s going through that she’s trying to protect herself. And, her negative actions aren’t over the top.
***What I Didn’t Like***
At one point Eddie says that he doesn’t do casual dating, but he almost did. This wasn’t a huge thing, and you see that it was a case of good intentions gone bad.
Characters raised in foster care always seem to grab my heart and this was no exception! I’m really looking forward to the other books in this series. 4 Stars!
While this works just fine as a standalone, it left me definitely wanting to go back to pick up the rest of the series!
I love Eddie’s exuberance! He’s also understand and intuitive. I so love that he was willing to be whatever she’d allow him to be in her life. If she could only handle friendship, that’s what he was offering! But, he also encouraged her and slowly pushed her to achieve more in her life. He’s such a sweetie!!
Greta and Meredith’s persistent understanding, patience, and support.
This isn’t labeled as a romance on Goodreads, but I still labeled it as such. I think it’s the biggest part of this story. However, it is definitely more than that!
Rev’s uncle!! He has no clue what he’s doing but he has such a heart for her! I loved watching the bond between them slowly grow.
Rev will do and say some things that are so not cool, but you understand with what she’s been through and what she’s going through that she’s trying to protect herself. And, her negative actions aren’t over the top.
***What I Didn’t Like***
At one point Eddie says that he doesn’t do casual dating, but he almost did. This wasn’t a huge thing, and you see that it was a case of good intentions gone bad.
Characters raised in foster care always seem to grab my heart and this was no exception! I’m really looking forward to the other books in this series. 4 Stars!
January 16, 2020
When I started this book, I knew it was the third book in the series, and someone assured me I didn't need to read the first two books to understand it. She was entirely right - I didn't need to know what the first two were about to enjoy this one. I never once felt confused about anything, but the cool thing is that I think I know what the other two are about because of little comments. And because I have really enjoyed reading about this caring group of friends, I am looking forward to going back and enjoy those stories too.
Reverie is a broken girl - no parents on the horizon, with good memories of her grandma who died when she was 10, a string of foster homes and some bullying and intentional distancing. By the time she lands at her Uncle Gerald's apartment, she is an expert at pushing people away, keeping things light, and starting over. But Uncle G treats her with the utmost care and makes some sweet sacrifices to make her feel comfortable, and the teens in her apartment complex (who are all the same age? weird) aren't interested in giving up on her as soon as she's ready to push them away. And that boy, Eddie, that keeps looking at her? Whew!
I wish I had read this book while I was still teaching high school. I know soooo many teens who are looking for a book like this. The characters have some serious struggles, things my students could relate to, like dead parents or parents in jail, moving to foster homes, and having to uproot and make friends too often. There are some good laughs in the book, and definitely a few cute romantic bits, but for the most part, Reverie is really struggling with some serious emotional issues. She keeps that stuff bottled up tight until she doesn't, and then she turns out crying every few chapters for a bit. Her self-doubt is entirely familiar, even to my 40-something-year-old self, and it really does take that many times for someone to say they like you before you're willing to let them be friends with you.
My only complaint is that I honestly have trouble believing that these teens are as comfortable talking about their emotions and other people's emotional rights as they are. I've spent years teaching teens and working in non-profits with teens, and they are not that vocal or even aware of how they're feeling or why. Honestly, most teens much more impulsive than they're portrayed in this book. But I do like the possibility that - with characters like this as models - the emotional landscape of teens could change to a lot more listening and accepting and supporting each other.
An advanced copy of the digital book was provided by the author for my honest opinion.
Reverie is a broken girl - no parents on the horizon, with good memories of her grandma who died when she was 10, a string of foster homes and some bullying and intentional distancing. By the time she lands at her Uncle Gerald's apartment, she is an expert at pushing people away, keeping things light, and starting over. But Uncle G treats her with the utmost care and makes some sweet sacrifices to make her feel comfortable, and the teens in her apartment complex (who are all the same age? weird) aren't interested in giving up on her as soon as she's ready to push them away. And that boy, Eddie, that keeps looking at her? Whew!
I wish I had read this book while I was still teaching high school. I know soooo many teens who are looking for a book like this. The characters have some serious struggles, things my students could relate to, like dead parents or parents in jail, moving to foster homes, and having to uproot and make friends too often. There are some good laughs in the book, and definitely a few cute romantic bits, but for the most part, Reverie is really struggling with some serious emotional issues. She keeps that stuff bottled up tight until she doesn't, and then she turns out crying every few chapters for a bit. Her self-doubt is entirely familiar, even to my 40-something-year-old self, and it really does take that many times for someone to say they like you before you're willing to let them be friends with you.
My only complaint is that I honestly have trouble believing that these teens are as comfortable talking about their emotions and other people's emotional rights as they are. I've spent years teaching teens and working in non-profits with teens, and they are not that vocal or even aware of how they're feeling or why. Honestly, most teens much more impulsive than they're portrayed in this book. But I do like the possibility that - with characters like this as models - the emotional landscape of teens could change to a lot more listening and accepting and supporting each other.
An advanced copy of the digital book was provided by the author for my honest opinion.
November 18, 2019
It's so nice to revisit the group of friends in Bakerstown! This time we get to know Reverie, the girl who prefers to keep to herself and who doesn't trust anyone. Getting to know her story I can really understand why she's trying to avoid any emotionell relationships, and I feel for her. I'm so glad when Eddie gets her to start opening up.
Like the other two books in the series this also made me feel a lot while reading it. The characters are real to me and I really want them to feel fine and make some progress. Sometimes I find myself with a goofy smile on my face and I love that! This is the kind of book you actually want to read in one sitting, but at the same time you don't ever want it to end (impossible equation!). I guess I don't have to mention that I'm looking forward to reading the next book?!
Like the other two books in the series this also made me feel a lot while reading it. The characters are real to me and I really want them to feel fine and make some progress. Sometimes I find myself with a goofy smile on my face and I love that! This is the kind of book you actually want to read in one sitting, but at the same time you don't ever want it to end (impossible equation!). I guess I don't have to mention that I'm looking forward to reading the next book?!
April 6, 2023
3/5 i have mixed feelings, i feel like compared to the other two books we get both characters back story and this was mainly focused on rev
i get we met eddie’s parents but didn’t really hear much about this family, it’s like he had no trauma or issues i guess you could say compared to everyone else and i would’ve loved a deeper dive into his life
i get this book is fictional, but i feel like rev is very lucky to have the people she has in her life they’re all so understanding about her tantrums and the way she acts and will forgive her
i also would’ve liked to see her and meredith’s friendship more i feel like it was mainly her and great idk
anyways i think the second book, meredith and owens story is my favorite so far… everyone else’s is very simple compared to them
i get we met eddie’s parents but didn’t really hear much about this family, it’s like he had no trauma or issues i guess you could say compared to everyone else and i would’ve loved a deeper dive into his life
i get this book is fictional, but i feel like rev is very lucky to have the people she has in her life they’re all so understanding about her tantrums and the way she acts and will forgive her
i also would’ve liked to see her and meredith’s friendship more i feel like it was mainly her and great idk
anyways i think the second book, meredith and owens story is my favorite so far… everyone else’s is very simple compared to them
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews